A complete guide to the policies and procedures pertaining to student life is available in the Student Handbook. What follows is an overview of some of the key features of OLSWA’s campus life.

Residences

Students at the Academy live in small men’s and women’s households. The households are designed to foster genuine Christian friendship and growth, and the furthering of a sacramental prayer life. Residence life is more than merely living in a “dorm”. It is a place where real human development is expected to take place, a place to study, and a place to relax. The residences are, in effect, the students’ homes and all residents participate in household upkeep through assigned chores each week. Residence assistants are designated to facilitate the smooth operation of the residences and to ensure that student life policies are respected.

Spiritual Life

There are two Catholic churches in Barry’s Bay, offering daily Mass, weekly Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and confessions at different times. During term time, the Academy hosts a special Mass every Monday at St. Hedwig’s Church, which is located across the street from our main building. Our chaplain helps us prepare for this Mass by hearing confessions. We keep a calendar with important feast days and saints’ days prominently displayed, and the liturgical year is kept in the forefront of all we do. Prayers before classes, meals, and other activities keep Christ the central focus of life at the Academy. Our chaplain and several local priests are available for spiritual direction throughout the year. Madonna House, about a 20 minute drive away from the Academy, is a spiritual haven for prayer and a centre for renewing all things in Christ.

Activities

OLSWA students have a plethora of options as to how to spend their time when they are not engrossed in their studies. The Academy organizes field trips such as religious pilgrimages, and cultural visits to urban centres.

Closer to home, the small-town/rural setting of Barry’s Bay provides an ideal environment for outdoor activities, and the local arena affords opportunities for hockey and ice-skating. For drama aficionados, there is the yearly play in which they may choose to perform or else assist behind the scenes. A high number of musically gifted students always seem to find their way to the Academy; they often have occasion to share their talents at St. Hedwig’s Church or in informal jam sessions amongst themselves. As well, students are always encouraged to participate in some form of community service, whether it be singing Christmas carols at the nearby seniors’ residence, or giving catechetical instruction at the local primary school.